Ravenna
Colour-themed rooms come in three categories at this finely coiffed seven-room boutique hotel smack in the town centre. Murano glass chandeliers, original…
Must-see hotels in Italy
Manarola
Sitting high up above the village, a collection of both private and public terraces command spectacular views while decor differs in each of the rooms,…
Central Sicily
With lime-green polystyrene furniture, 19th-century frescoes and a giant circular bed floating in a floor of liquid tiles, this unique slumber number is…
Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria
Sorrento
A hotel for over 170 years, the grand old dame of Sorrento oozes belle-époque elegance. Huge potted palms adorn gilded public rooms awash with antique…
Bergamo
Da Vittorio is not only a noteworthy gourmet hideout 9km east of town, but also offers 10 quality suites in its low-slung country estate. Each of the…
Naples
Only steps from the bars and nightlife of Piazza Bellini, this sharp, hip hotel occupies a 16th-century palazzo, its pure-white spaces spiked with…
Procida
Enjoying a discreet cliffside location, this crenelated 18th-century villa is a gorgeous retreat, complete with rambling garden, vines and swimming pool…
Centro Storico
This rakish four-star has got the lot – enticing boudoir decor, an enviable location off Campo de' Fiori, super-helpful staff and a fabulous panoramic…
Pescara
The G is the Alfa Romeo of Pescara’s hotels: smart, well-designed and quietly luxurious, but at the same time, not ridiculously expensive. Located a mere…
Trapani
Graceful Palazzo Platamone, with neoclassical caramel-coloured facade dating to the 1900s, is the grandiose setting for the Sicilian debut of Spanish…
Cremona
It's what Italians do best. Cremona's hippest hotel is a high-tech blend of glass, concrete and steel. Stylish bedrooms feature clean lines, bold colours…
Chianti
These five luxurious suites filled with art, antiques and sleek contemporary furnishings are set in an 18th-century villa on the Castello di Ama wine…
Val d'Orcia
Laden with art and atmosphere, this place has friendly hosts, a communal lounge with a wood stove (a joy in winter) and three comfortable rustic-chic…
Venice
Evenings seem enchanted in this opulent 1540 palazzo, where staff fluff pillows, ply guests with prosecco, arrange water taxis to the opera and plot…
Modica
It's easy to pretend you're a holidaying celebrity in this beautifully restored apartment, its balconies and private terrace serving up commanding views…
Northwestern Tuscany
The tender love and care lavished on this outstanding three-star hotel by owner Eliza and her friendly staff seeps out of every last perfectly plumped…
Ancient Rome
Hidden on a quiet backstreet near the Imperial Forums, this chic boutique hotel offers five-star service and a refined contemporary look. Rooms are…
Western Sicily
Smack in the middle of La Casbah, this unique boutique hotel features nine beautifully restored rooms, suites and kitchen-equipped apartments with terrace…
Abruzzo
It's hard to imagine a lovelier place in which to base yourself than this agriturismo (farm stay) below the stunning village of Opi. Surrounded by forest…
Trapani
Spoon yourself a jelly sweet out of the huge sweetie jar at reception, admire the soaring centuries-old ceiling and chic Moorish-styled lounge, and…
Mediterranean Coast
Located within the bohemian laneways of the Farm Cultural Park, Community Rooms & Wine's combination of stylish and spacious accommodation with a good…
Aosta
Tucked away in a quiet historic alley, this six-room hotel is full of traditional Aostan furniture and decoration but keeps it simple and rather stylish…
Rome
Housed in a 1905 Liberty-style villa, this gorgeous hotel sports an eclectic look that effortlessly blends African and Middle Eastern art with original…
Western Sardinia
Housed in a 17th-century cortile (courtyard house), this elegant hideaway has rooms surrounding an inner garden complete with a wisteria-draped pergola…
Chianti
Manager Michele works hard to ensure that guests enjoy their stay at this boutique agriturismo owned by the Tenuta di Nozzole winery, offering an…
Marsala
Perfectly positioned in Marsala's historic city centre, this lovely B&B offers three attractive rooms – including a palatial front unit with cathedral…
Costa Smeralda
Follow the donkey signs to Laura Lagattolla's welcoming rural retreat, 1km north of San Pantaleo. A relaxed, ramshackle farm, it offers simple guest rooms…
Naples
Everyone from artists to Parisian fashionistas adores this elegant guesthouse, lavished with antiques, books and original artworks. Its four guestrooms…
Northeastern Sardinia
High above the Golfo Aranci, Francesca and Angelo's welcoming Gallurese stazzo (farmhouse) stands in blissful isolation on a hilltop with 360-degree views…
Taormina
Every detail is perfect at this painstakingly restored former music school turned luxurious B&B, on a back alley near Piazza IX Aprile. Vintage furniture…
Cortina d’Ampezzo
A 10km, forest-shaded drive from Cortina, this stylish place is astounding value, with spectacular mountain views from its large rooms. The well-regarded…
Noto
In Noto's historic workers' quarter, this sophisticated B&B is owned by the gracious Giorgio and Carla, who gave up the stress of northern Italian life to…
Trastevere & Gianicolo
It's seldom you can stay in a 16th-century convent designed by baroque genius Borromini. This four-star hotel is exquisitely appointed – muted colours…
Stromboli
This cheerful Aeolian-style guesthouse is only 100m from a sweet black-sand beach in Piscità, the tranquil neighbourhood at the west end of town. Dorms,…
San Gimignano
American Baker Bloodworth left a career in Hollywood to open this boutique retreat with his Italian partner Cristian Rovetta, the culinary force behind…
Trieste
The Habsburg-era, seafront Grand Hotel is Trieste's other luxury hotel, offering sumptuous contemporary glamour in place of the Duchi's tradition and…
Southwestern Sardinia
Guests are met with a warm Sardinian welcome at this charming farmstay, nestled amid olive groves and fruit trees near Pauli Arbarei. Its sunny, simply…
Amalfi
DieciSedici (1016) dresses up an old medieval palace in the kind of style that only the Italians can muster. The half-dozen rooms dazzle with chandeliers,…
Lecce
Surrounded by citrus groves, Masseria Trapana's modern reinvention of a 16th-century farmhouse is 12km north of Lecce. Ten suites combine with shared…
Tyrrhenian Coast
Tucked into a back street above Petralia Sottana's Duomo, this family-run inn has immaculate rooms and three-star amenities. Its restaurant specialises in…
